Crisis as Kenyan volleyball clubs lose points

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By Oscar Pilipili

The African Clubs Championship has been thrown into further controversy with Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) sanctioning two local clubs.

Backed by world body FIVB, the CAVB directed Kenya Prisons and Pipeline to forfeit their matches over a saga involving some of their players.

CAVB wants the affected players withdrawn from the tournament that reaches semi-finals at Kasarani today. The rule that gives 10 as the minimum number in a team knocks out Pipeline from the event as they remain with nine.

Prisons will have 10, but the bad side of it is they will now contest for positions 15-16.

Both teams were already in the quarter finals after topping their pools. The players said to have signed for clubs in Dubai are: Jane Wacu and Esther Mwombe for Prisons, Lucy Chege, Janet Wanja and Asha Makuto from Pipeline.

Kenya Volleyball Federation appealed to the world body, FIVB after they disagreed with CAVB.

Chairman Waithaka Kioni maintained the players were innocent until proved guilty.

Meanwhile, Bejaia beat APR 3-0 in the quarter-final, while Al Ahli of Egypt were on their way to beating Water Sports of Cameroon as they led by two sets by time of going to Press. KCB were to play Botswana’s Kutswana at night.

"We want the complainants to prove our players have signed for clubs in the Middle East by providing International Transfer Certificates (ITC)," he said.

In the process, the KVF have engaged Legal Advisor Njeri Onyango to pursue the matter.

CAVB Control Committee President, Tom Omongole, supported Waithaka’s idea saying there was no concrete prove to the effect that the accused were members of other teams.

Kenya will now bank on Kenya Commercial Bank to win them the trophy and ticket to the first World Clubs Championships.